DR. ASHOK JAIN

Dr. Ashok Jain completed M.Sc. (Physics) at University of Lucknow in 1959 where he was awarded gold medal for being the best student of the year. He did his Ph.D in Theoretical Physics from Delhi University. He was a Commonwealth Fellow of the University of Bristol (UK) between September 1970 - August 1972. He was selected by Ministry of Education, Government of India for research at the Department of Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Japan during 1963-65. He was Reader in Physics at Delhi University; Science Attach¨¦, Indian Embassy, Tokyo; and Director, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. For research in theoretical physics, has been a visitor to Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; visitor at HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Bristol University, Bristol, U.K.; International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy. As Director of the National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies, a research laboratory of CSIR, he has overall responsibility for academic guidance, coordination and management of this multi-disciplinary research institute consisting of 53 scientists. The research areas of NISTADS include history and philosophy of science, technology and social change, sociology of science etc.
His research publications include 28 research papers in international physics journals including Physical Review, Nature, Physics Letters etc., 44 research papers and articles in the area of science technology and society studies, and 4 edited books relating to Science, Technology and Society. His special assignments are Technical Coordinator Science and Technology Indicators Project, Commonwealth Science Council; Member UNESCO's Expert Group on Science Technology and Society; Chairman, Executive Committee of National Information System for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology; Member, Indian Council of Social Science Research; Member of the Advisory Group, Environmental Technology Assessment Programme of the UN and elected representative of the Asian region on the executive committee of World Association of Industrial Research Organisations (WAITRO), Denmark.
He has advised Vietnam, Malaysia, Mauritius, The West Indies and the African Academy of Sciences on National S&T Policies. He has participated in conferences, seminars, expert group meetings in Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Australia, U.K., France, Uganda, Kenya, Portugal, Republic of Korea, the Netherlands etc.

He is a member of a number of international expert groups as well as a number of international professional bodies: Among his membership of International Expert Groups includes: Commonwealth Consultative Group on Management of Technology; Expert Panel, Science and Technology Policy Asian Network (STEPAN), UNESCO; UNESCO Panel on Future Perspectives on Science and Society. Consultative Committee, Environmental Technology Assessment, U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP); IDRC Consultative Group on Utilization of Indigenous Industrial R&D.; Executive Committee, World Association of Industrial Technology Research Organisation (WAITRO).

Among his membership of the professional bodies include: Japan Physical Society, Japan; Institute of Physics, U.K.; Indian Academy of Social Science; Indian Science Congress Association; International Council for Science Policy Studies, of I.C.S.U.; System Dynamics Society of India; Mombusho Scholars Association of India; President Society for the Promotion of Science Technology Society Studies.

Among his publication include consultancy reports: Forward Look Exercise for S&T Budget (The IRPA Scheme). For the Government of Malaysia; Incentives for Science and Technology.
For the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa ;Entering the Asian Market : Technology Strategy of Japanese Companies; For Asia Pacific Centre for Technology Transfer.

Among his membership of academic journal include: Association with Professional Journals; AI and Society : Member of Advisory Board; Current Literature of Science of Science, Editor-in-Chief; Science Technology and Development, Member Advisory Board.

Dr. Ashok Jain is widely recognised in the research area of Science Technology Society Studies. His advice is sought by many agencies and individuals both in India and abroad. Totally dedicated to the interaction between science and society, he has made many in-roads into projects which improve the quality of life with technological change.